The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1887-04-02
Washington News and Gossip.
From our Special Correspondent.

WASHINGTON. d. G., Mar, 2S, 'S7.
Mr.. EDITOR: Although the weather contin.
ues cold the daysare bright and pleasant, and
evidences of the opening of spring time abound
upon every hand. The buds are bursting upon
the earlier varieties of trees, and crocuses and
other blossuming plants are in full blossom in
the parks and public grounds.
AS the time approaches for the opening of the
great National Drill the headquarters Of the
committee, having the matter in charge, presents
Il very active appearance. Miltary organizations
from every State in the Union have potifed the
COMMITTEES of their Intention Of participating in
the contests. anu 1t is probable that at least fiji
teen thousand men will be included in TIE grand
review, to be held Npon the closing day. Al
though the success Of the undertaking had long
since been assured, the uncertaiuty which has
existed regarding the confessions to be expected
from railroad companies,qhas prevented many
military organizations from mourning the ex-
pense Of the journey. Since 1t has been decided
that all of the trunk lines of the couHtqy are to
carry passengers at less than one-half fare, The
committee has been iubilant, and there is no
longer doubt but that the National Cdpiial will
be taxed to its uttcrmost to accommodate its
guests during drill week" As the last day of
Tie drill will occur upon Decoration Day, it is
proposed that the visiting military Shall visit the
National Cemetery at Arlington, and participate
inthe decoration ceremonies and rs the route
by the Long Blidge is circuitous, lfontoon
bridge VIII be thrown across the river, at the
foot of q street, for use upon that occasion.
There seems to be 10 relation between the
railroad collision and the Patent Of1ce, but one
OF the direct results of the recent railroad disas-
tiers in Vermont and Massachusetts, has been to
stimulate the inventive minds throughout the
country, and they have set at work to invent
| something that will supply an acknowledged
public need and the Patent Office is being foodcd
with applications for patents for great variety
| OF devices for modifying the danger incident to
| the present means of heating railway cars. No
less than three hundred a"d sixty applications
of this class have been received during the past
six weeks, and the number is increasing daily.
One of the staple institutions of the National
Government is the office of the Sergeant-at-Arms
of the House of Representatives. 1t is ut this
office that the employees of the House side OF
the Capitol receive their monthly payments, and
the office is open the year around. Among the
Members III the city, who visited the ofilcea day
or two since, was Representative W. /. Scott OF
| Pennsylvania. MIR. Scott had not drawn any
portion of his salary for more than year, and he
received from the cashier $4,000, which is said
to have been the largest sum ever paid to single
individual in the history of the office.
The work of the Pension once is increasing SO
rapidly that there is likelihood Of tile Office be
ing swamped unless there is a let up. During
the past week G,247 new claims wercrGled; ISL
CLAIMS were rejected, and 2.i47 allowcd and the
total number now pending is PSF 1877. The Mexi
can pension claims are coming in in large mum
bers, and it is not seen how ii is possible TO dis
pose of the number before the end OF the fsca
year, ending June 80, 1885. The S6,OO0OO0, ant
over, appropriated for this class of claims mus
be paid out before that time, or else, whatever
balance is ON hand turned into the Treasury
This will probably nccessitate another approprla
tion by Congress as it is next to impossible t,
finally dispose of the 10000 claims which it /.
estimated will be filed The claimants are he
ginning to understand the situation, and are
accordingly pressing their claims for all they az
worth. H.